ANNOUNCING…. A SPECIAL ONE NIGHT ONLY personal tribute to New Canaan’s one and only POPPA BLUE by his son, Robert “Bobby” Troup.
The performance is a one man show, based on the life of his legendary father, local celebrity, Bob, “Poppa Blue” Troup (aka: “The Colonel,” “Big Bob,” or “Judge” Troup). Poppa Blue was a generous, warm-hearted, civic-minded, jive-talking, brashly-dressed compassionate man who took his role looking after everyone in town very seriously. He seemed to relish spreading love and good cheer to the denizens of little old New Canaan. If you needed any kind of help, advice of just wanted to crack up in the presence of his rapid-fire doublespeak, he was always happy to oblige. His only goal seemed to be to leave an impression on the hearts of those he cared for. Poppa Blue had a complex, deeply private personal story filled with tales of childhood abuse and abandonment, wartime horror, financial success which lead, eventually, to economic devastation. His perseverance in following the ideals of his kind heart were what ultimately gave him satisfaction, pleasure and defined who he was.
To this day, 11 years after he left this planet, mention of his name and the wacky legacy he left behind come back to me on a regular basis. He may not have been the richest man, money-wise but the impression he made on people’s hearts endures to this day. His son,”Bobolink” has written a touching, deeply personal, entertaining and sometimes hilarious one man show based on his father. It’s about a man constructing a legacy of compassion and affection for his fellow citizens. When faced with the choice between living a life dedicated to pursuing a fortune or helping others, he chose to look after his neighbors. He was an outsized, big personality in a quiet, small town, Poppa Blue was an important figure to plenty of people. He continues to be revered by many as an ideal. Someone who always put others first. His son’s personal monologue is definitely an homage to that spirit.
TALK-BACK AFTER for those interested in sharing their short stories of interactions with Poppa Blue.
The performance is a one man show, based on the life of his legendary father, local celebrity, Bob, “Poppa Blue” Troup (aka: “The Colonel,” “Big Bob,” or “Judge” Troup). Poppa Blue was a generous, warm-hearted, civic-minded, jive-talking, brashly-dressed compassionate man who took his role looking after everyone in town very seriously. He seemed to relish spreading love and good cheer to the denizens of little old New Canaan. If you needed any kind of help, advice of just wanted to crack up in the presence of his rapid-fire doublespeak, he was always happy to oblige. His only goal seemed to be to leave an impression on the hearts of those he cared for. Poppa Blue had a complex, deeply private personal story filled with tales of childhood abuse and abandonment, wartime horror, financial success which lead, eventually, to economic devastation. His perseverance in following the ideals of his kind heart were what ultimately gave him satisfaction, pleasure and defined who he was.
To this day, 11 years after he left this planet, mention of his name and the wacky legacy he left behind come back to me on a regular basis. He may not have been the richest man, money-wise but the impression he made on people’s hearts endures to this day. His son,”Bobolink” has written a touching, deeply personal, entertaining and sometimes hilarious one man show based on his father. It’s about a man constructing a legacy of compassion and affection for his fellow citizens. When faced with the choice between living a life dedicated to pursuing a fortune or helping others, he chose to look after his neighbors. He was an outsized, big personality in a quiet, small town, Poppa Blue was an important figure to plenty of people. He continues to be revered by many as an ideal. Someone who always put others first. His son’s personal monologue is definitely an homage to that spirit.
TALK-BACK AFTER for those interested in sharing their short stories of interactions with Poppa Blue.
